1. HEATHER MORGAN hmorgan@twsproject17.org
USDA- Rural Development Community Facilities Grants and Loans

2. Where? Eligible Rural Areas
Cities, towns, and census designated places (CDPs)
with populations of 20,000 or less according to
the latest decennial census of the United States.
Projects must primarily serve and benefit rural residents and communities.
At least 51% of population served must be in an eligible rural area.
Pay costs for a project when the median household income of the service area population exceeds the higher of the poverty line or State Non-metropolitan median household income
See AN 4781 Definition of Rural and Rural Area for Community Facilities Loans and Grants

3. What Is An Essential Community Facility ?
Those public improvements requisite to the beneficial and orderly development of a community operated on a nonprofit basis.
A function customarily provided by a local unit of government;
Does not include private affairs, commercial or business undertakings (except for limited authority for industrial parks);
Is operated on a nonprofit basis; and

4. What Is An Essential Community Facility?
No individual, commercial, or business undertakings (except for limited authority for industrial parks)
All facilities must be for public use
Exception: YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and Camp Fire Girls
The facility is the physical structure and the
service to be provided.
Commercial or business undertakings -For CF projects; childcare, geriatric care, and healthcare are exempted from this definition. NO business incubators.
Business/Industrial Parks are eligible only to the extent of land acquisition and necessary site preparation, including access ways and utility extensions to and throughout the site. Funds may not be used to finance on-site utility systems, or buildings.
Discuss 2 AN’s: Eligibility of Private NP Organizations and
Eligibility of YMCA, YWCA, etc. – these organizations are exempt from public-use rule under Title VI.
Boy’s Clubs – no
Girl’s Clubs – no
Boy’s and Girl’s Club - yes

5. Eligible Loan and Grant Purposes
Rural America
Education
Healthcare
Public Safety
Higher Education
Vocational
Secondary

6. An Eligible Facility Must Be:
Able to demonstrate significant community support.
Provide resolution or letter of support from affected local government(s) to indicate that:
Service is needed
Facility will not adversely impact other facilities providing similar services
This is NOT a requirement for financial support
See AN 4675 – Evidence of Significant Community Support. This is a statutory requirement – applies to public bodies and tribes as well as nonprofit applicants. The documentation from a public body could be a Board or Bond Resolution or a letter from the Mayor. If tribal lands are within the service area of the facility, the applicant will need a letter from the tribal government.

7. Eligible Nonprofit Corporations
Must have significant ties to local community
To ensure that a facility under private control will carry out a public purpose
Facility will continue to primarily serve rural areas
Significant ties to the local community are required for loan making. These significant ties are extremely important if the project has problems once the facility is operating. There is a much better chance the facility will be able to recover and continue operating, if there is strong support from the community.
Discuss YMCA example – significant support from the community turned things around. They held a major fundraising campaign to bring the account current and to retire the debt within 5 years. Flip-side – Daycare Center in the same state, failed due to lack of community support – only parents of kids in the center were providing support.

8. Evidence of Significant Ties
Three ways to demonstrate significant ties:
Close association with, or controlled by a local unit of government
Broadly-based ownership and controlled by members of the community
Substantial public funding

9. Other Credit
Applicant must contact appropriate type of lender for the type of project being financed.
Large project should contact lender that typically makes large loans (not small bank).

10. Legal Authority/Responsibility
Must have or will obtain legal authority to:
Own
Borrow funds
Pledge collateral
Construct
Operate
Maintain
Manage

11. How Can Funds Be Used? Eligible Loan and Grant Purposes
Purchase real estate/buildings
Construction, expansion, or renovations, to essential community facilities
Purchase vehicles and major equipment
Purchase an existing facility to improve or to prevent a loss of service;
Construct buildings, roads, bridges, fences, etc.

12. How Can Funds Be Used? Eligible Loan and Grant Purposes
Reasonable necessary fees for:
Legal
Architectural and/or Engineering
Fiscal advisors
Environmental
Archaeological
Mitigation measures
Planning
Establishing or acquiring rights
Interest on interim financing

13. How Can Funds Be Used? Eligible Loan and Grant Purposes
Initial operating expenses for a period ordinarily not exceeding one year when the borrower is unable to pay such expenses.
Refinancing debts incurred by, or on behalf of, an applicant when all of the following conditions exist:
Debts being refinanced are a secondary part of the total loan, (less than 50 percent);
Debts were incurred for the facility;
Arrangements cannot be made with creditors to extend or modify terms

14. Items considered when awarding grant funds
Maximum grant assistance can not exceed 50% of annual state allocation or $50K which ever is greater
Minimum amount sufficient to provide economic feasibility
The entity should possess adequate income to support the proposed facility and its continued operations
Any sale or transfer of property with a remaining useful maybe subject to the interest of the United States Government in market value proportion to original contribution

15. USDA RD provides financial assistance to a wide range of elementary, secondary and higher education facilities.
Example projects include: Public and nonprofit schools, community colleges, tribal colleges, charter schools, vocational schools and educational institutions for people with disabilities as well as libraries.
Nearly 20% of the portfolio is invested in rural education.
In FY 2013, CF invested $390 million in 195 rural community colleges, tribal colleges and other educational facilities.

16. Education and Cultural Projects
Schools: auditoriums, classrooms, charter, Montessori, buses, computers
Library: buildings, furnishings, bookmobile, books, shelving
Museum: buildings, display cases
College: classrooms, dormitories...

17. Public Safety Fire & Rescue
Fire stations
Pumper/tanker trucks
Water hauling trucks
Radio systems
Chassis
Generators
Bunker gear
Police vehicles
Ambulances
Rescue boats
Helicopters
“Jaws of Life” tools

18. Public Services Child Day Care Adult Day Care
Domestic Violence Shelter
Animal Shelter
Fairgrounds
Renewable Energy
Snow removal equipment
Some folks want to classify domestic violence shelters as “public safety” facilities; however, for coding purposes they are considered “public services.”

19. Criteria for a Renewable Energy Source for a CF Project
Primary purpose of facility is an essential community facility, i.e., education or healthcare
Will improve the facility’s ability to provide service
Will help defray the cost of facility operation
Borrower cannot sell power generated by system

20. Ineligible CF Purposes

21. Benefits Favorable interest rate. Usually less than bank rates.
Flexible repayment terms to match cash flow.
Longer financing terms than a bank can offer.
Up to 40 years for real estate and useful life for equipment.

22. Heather Morgan can help with writing grant applications and all paperwork. Contact information: Heather Morgan Feel free to pass on this information to others in your community